On the hillside beside Clear Water Bay Road, there are several villas built in the 1960s. Each villa has four floors, with views of the mountains on one side and the sea on the other.
This place is very remote, and few people know that Run Run Shaw lived here until his death, and it was later abandoned.
His ancestral home is Ningbo and he was born in Shanghai.
He is the sixth of eight brothers and sisters, so he is called Uncle Six. His eldest brother and second brother both made movies, but they cheated on him and the relationship was not good. He only had a relationship with his third brother, Shao Renmei, and founded Shaw Brothers.
He was 78 years old this year and could live for a long time. He died at the age of 107.
This morning.
Chen Qi came to visit and met Fang Yihua first. Fang Yihua didn't look like he was at the company at home. He looked like a good concubine and a good mother, and said with a smile: "Come in quickly, we have been waiting for you."
"This house is really nice. Is it 10,000 square feet?"
"It's 15,000 square feet. When it was first built, it would be the most foreign-style building in Hong Kong. He missed the old days and refused to move after living there for 20 years."
"If it's transferred, I can take over, wow, the swimming pool!"
Chen Qi saw a huge open-air swimming pool with rippling water among the trees. It was very stylish and he exclaimed: "All the female stars of Shaw Brothers have swum in it, right?"
Fang Yihua's face darkened. He just said a few words and then regained consciousness.
She led Chen Qi upstairs to the living room. The hanging crystal chandelier, large sofa, glass windows and the blank landscaping outside the window were all exquisite. A thin old man was already waiting.
He has a long face, wears glasses, and is very energetic. To show how much he cares about meeting him, he also wears a suit at home.
It's none other than Run Run Shaw!
Chen Qi looked at this figure who was indispensable in Hong Kong history. He received the British Knight Medal and donated money to the mainland after 1984.
He donates an average of 100 million every year, not only for education, but also for disasters and disasters in the Mainland -"
The merits and demerits were clear, but Chen Qi was still willing to address you. He took two steps forward and said with a smile, "Mr. Shao, I finally meet you!"
"It's better to be famous than to meet him. Mr. Chen is young and promising!"
Run Run Shaw also looked at him in surprise. He was too young and said, "Please sit down, please sit down!"
A self-dressed woman wearing a blue cloth coat and black cloth shoes served tea, and Fang Yihua sat beside her, chatting with each other.
Run Run Shaw spoke slowly and held a civilized stick in his hand. He exuded the temperament of an old-school man and said with a smile: "I am from Shanghai. I heard that your wife is also from Shanghai. I have watched "Life is Beautiful" and won an Oscar for serving the country."
It’s a shame, but it’s a pity that I couldn’t see it today.”
"She is pregnant and is staying in the mainland to recuperate."
"Oh? This is a happy event. When the child is born, you must send me a letter to express your feelings."
"Then I'll thank you in advance."
After chatting with the family's children for a while, the atmosphere was harmonious. Chen Qi began to ask: "I heard that Shaw Brothers is reducing production, what are your plans for the future?"
"Shaw Brothers' recession is well known. Let's stop production after a few years. The third brother died of illness and there is no one to take care of the theater chain, which is also a headache. Is Mr. Chen interested in taking over?"
"There are more than a dozen of your theaters, including ours, there are more than thirty. If the film source is not available, I can't take over. But I am willing to take over some talents from Shaw Brothers, such as the one named Wang Zuxian."
"Wang Zuxian, think about it! Her manager is in my hands, you can ask her to film a movie." Fang Yihua said.
"I trained her for you to take a commission, right? I'll dig her over tomorrow."
"Ha! I raised the liquidated damages a long time ago just to be on guard against you!"
Run Run Shao looked at the two of them strangely. Fang Yihua always said that this kid could make people mad, but it turned out to be true.
Chen Qi continued: "It's a pity that you decided to stop production at Shaw Brothers, but I know you won't change your mind. The big studio system of Shaw Brothers is outdated, so we just used this opportunity to move lightly and switch to TVB. The sky is brighter again."
Run Run Shaw's face remained calm and noncommittal.
"I think the suspension of Shaw Brothers' production does not mean bidding farewell to the film industry. It can completely change its strategy and develop in another direction, such as theaters."
"You said investing in building theaters in the mainland?" Fang Yihua asked.
Chen Qi gave an angry look that was shocked but also a little relieved, and said with a smile: "You were absent from the previous meeting in Beijing, so you have to make up for it now. Mainland China is studying to let Hong Kong films enter Guangdong, and Shaw Brothers will not make movies. It's okay.
Let's do a theater!
Land is at a premium in Hong Kong, so it’s not easy to get a piece of land. Land in the mainland is like picking it up for free. All kinds of resources are very cheap, and the audience is very enthusiastic about movies. Our ticket price is 20 cents, and last year Guangdong Province took 100 million yuan.
Total box office.
In addition to a theater, a film and television city can also be built.
Your film and television city is too small. It would be no problem to build tens of thousands of acres in the mainland.
And in the long run:
I'm not talking about movies, the film industry is complicated. I'm just talking about TV dramas. Mainland TV dramas are developing rapidly, with strong support from the state. Within five years, they will be everywhere and dominate the national audience. By then, there will be more and more crews, and everyone can come to ours.
Filming in the film and television city.
Once you have a film crew, you have to build a hotel and a series of service industry facilities.
Guangdong Province’s three-come-one-subsidy policy has absorbed a large number of factories in Hong Kong and can provide cheap and abundant small commodities nearby, which is another major advantage.
In addition to being used for filming, the film and television city can also be used as a tourist attraction. Guangdong Province is at the forefront of reform and attracts national attention. The floating population is countless, so there is no need to worry about passenger flow.
If it can be successful, I dare not say in the long run, this will definitely be the largest and most prosperous film and television base in China within 20 years!"
Run Run Shaw pondered for a moment and asked: "Is this film and television base a joint venture?"
"Of course! The highest joint venture model in mainland China is a share ratio of 51:49, but I am not asking you to invest alone. I want to unite Hong Kong film and television practitioners who are willing to participate to form a company for joint investment, including Mr. Qiu from ATV and Zou from Jiahe
boss-"
Chen Qi paused and said, "Your intention to donate to Zhejiang University is certainly a charitable act, but after all, you are the head of the Shaw Brothers film empire. It would be a pity to bid farewell to movies in such a quiet way.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to leave some of Shaw Brothers’ imprint on the mainland, such as building a Shaw Brothers museum in the film and television base?”
Run Run Shaw, who had always been expressionless, finally felt a little moved. First, he had just made a donation plan, how did the other party know about it? Second, it was the Shaw Museum, which really caused a stir.
As people get older, they all think about what will happen after their death.
Anyway, they are donating money to the mainland, so it would be good to let Shaw Brothers continue in another way.
He thought about it again and again and said, "This matter is important. You don't have any clear information yet. Are you sure it can be done?"
"Because the matter is so important, the officials are extra cautious. Once they have finished blending the brew, they will definitely start a second round of negotiations. By then the Guangdong Province will probably participate, and we can discuss specific matters."
Run Run Shaw nodded and glanced at Fang Yihua, who said: "I will participate when the time comes."
"good!"
That's enough, Chen Qi said goodbye.
He looked back at the large villa on the hillside. In fact, it only had two owners and a few servants. Because of Fang Yihua, Run Run Shaw's children were abroad and had no contact with each other, but Fang Yihua himself had no children.
Run Run Shaw passed away in 2014 and Alex Fong passed away in 2017. TVB also changed owners accordingly, ending an era.
"Cherish the people in front of you. Fortunately, I have a child who can take me to Banyong Town Xiangjiang!"
Chen Qi let out a crocodile hiss.
Chapter completed!